Inside the bar, Zyra quickly dove into her drinks. As she sipped, her cheeks flushed a deep red, and her words turned into a drunken ramble. She clutched her bottle as tears shimmered in her eyes. "You know," she hiccuped, "Marcus is a complete disaster. How did I ever fall for him?"Yaslyn shot Tyler a glance and noticed a flicker of amusement in his gaze, prompting a frown from her.Zyra, swaying slightly, went on, "I'll never forgive him. Never. He hasn't even tried contacting me. It's obvious he's moved on... Oh, how I loathe him!"As she chuckled tipsily, a burly man, spotting her vulnerable state, sidled up to her with a sly grin. "Hey, beautiful," he drawled. "Looking for some company? Why don't we chat?"Zyra pulled away as his clammy fingers brushed her arm. "Don't touch me! Back off!"The man's attitude shifted swiftly. "Listen," he said with a malicious grin, "I'm offering you a drink. It's a courtesy, not a debt. Don't play hard to get!" He reeled his hand back, seemin
Yaslyn was focused on her primary goal: locating Zyra and Tyler. As evening draped the city and the streets echoed with whispers of intrigue, she stated her purpose. "I've got important business to attend to. There's no time for small talk," she announced. She then turned on her heel, her footsteps echoing, ready to strike off."You can stop looking. Zyra is perfectly safe," Xoan's voice cut through, laced with a touch of playful malice. It was as though he manipulated the very course of destiny, orchestrating every move. He looked into Yaslyn's eyes with a faint smirk.She stopped and immediately turned with a questioning look. "How do you know who I'm looking for?"Xoan, seemingly amused, countered, "Why else do you think I’d be here?"His eyes held a sincerity, a depth that made her question her judgment. Hesitating for just a moment, she slid into the car beside him. As she shut the door, she met the intense stare of the man next to her, and an uneasy realization dawned on her.
The next morning, Yaslyn arrived at her office bright and early. However, as soon as she entered, Santiago quickly took her by the wrist and pulled her aside. His eyes were stormy, filled with palpable tension."Why have you been avoiding me?" he asked, the annoyance clear in his tone. "Ever since you left my place that night, you've been distant."Yaslyn had been dodging his efforts to reach out for the past two days, not replying to his WhatsApp messages.Yaslyn, however, was the portrait of calm. She met his heated gaze with a serene smile as she replied, "I just felt there was nothing much to talk about, so I didn’t know what to text."Her indifference felt like a gentle touch on a cloud—soft and dispersing. Santiago took a deep breath, a hint of regret showed in his eyes. "The last incident with Yessica wasn't her best moment," he admitted, alluding to a past event that clearly still stung. "My family knows, and they want to make amends. They've asked you to come over."The m
Belicia was taken aback by Yaslyn's cutting remarks and managed only a forced smile in reply. Roselyn seemed on the verge of interjecting, but a pointed look from Yaslyn kept her quiet."That's settled, then," Yaslyn stated with an air of finality. "We'll begin shooting the ad in the next few days. I expect both of you to be ready." She turned her thoughtful gaze to Roselyn. "In the meantime, Roselyn, create an account and start establishing your presence."Roselyn nodded. Ever since she joined the company, she had been engrossed in mastering the nuances of filming techniques and had not had time to think about social media. This seemed like a good opportunity to get started.Back at her desk, Roselyn, after a brief moment of uncertainty, created a new account.She had an old account titled 'Actress Roselyn', but it had only a modest following. However, those followers were dedicated, impressed by her acting prowess and dedication. With a heavy heart, she deactivated that account,
With Yaslyn's reassurance, Roselyn moved with a renewed sense of confidence. She was calm even as she edited photos, earning surprised looks from her colleagues. Roselyn was surprisingly buoyant, if not joyful, despite facing a tidal wave of online vitriol hours ago.Her coworkers exchanged puzzled glances. Had she gone mad?Roselyn was undeterred by their curious gazes. Yaslyn's words were enough for her. She had faith in Yaslyn's wisdom and would patiently wait for her opportunity to rectify the situation.That afternoon, a wave of notifications swept over them. Lukesh Company, the renowned jewelry company, released a list of potential celebrity endorsers for their new campaign. Among Zyra and another decent-looking actress, two names stood out: Belicia and Roselyn.This marked Lukesh Company's first foray into social media influencer endorsements, sparking a flurry of excitement among netizens. The shockwave rippled even further when they discovered that Roselyn was in the mix.
As expected, the only person who could make Xoan do something in the dead of night was Wrenley.Yaslyn smiled nonchalantly. "Well then, Mr. Xoan Warren, I wonder if you can afford the price I have in mind.""Name it.""Twenty-eight million, not a cent more or less."Although Yerick offered 11 million dollars for Skylar for the collaboration, which was indeed a bit low for Yaslyn to agree, 28 million seemed a bit excessive.Xoan rigidly replied, "Isn't that a bit too high?"Yaslyn raised an eyebrow and replied sarcastically, "High, you say? Yerick was willing to spend eleven million on Skylar, an internet influencer he's fond of. Mr. Xoan Warren, your family is wealthy. Can't you spare twenty-eight million for the woman you love?"Her words drew a clear distinction between a loved one and someone merely liked.‘Yerick is willing to spend eleven million dollars on someone he has a soft spot for. Can't you spare twenty-eight million for the woman you love?’ she thought.Xoan fell
Wrenley's expression change was the most obvious. She gazed at Yerick's fearless and radiant smile, her eyes immediately reddening. "What do you mean by that?"Yerick slightly parted his lips, appearing somewhat surprised. "I didn't say anything specific. Why is Ms. Jurado reading into it?"Indeed, he had not specified anything, so why was she jumping to conclusions?Wrenley was seething with anger but could not find the words to retort under these circumstances. All she could manage was an awkward smile. "I may have been overthinking.""Yeah, Ms. Jurado shouldn't have so many conspiracy theories. It's as if everyone is out to get you," Yerick said, his words dripping with sarcasm.Wrenley could not find a response to his remark and turned to Xoan beside her, seeking refuge. However, Xoan seemed not to have heard her and kept his lips sealed."Alright, let's not waste any more time outside. Our purpose today is to discuss our collaboration. Let's head inside," Yaslyn suggested.
Wrenley halted abruptly. She was poised to counter, but Yaslyn's words gave her pause. There was truth to them.She realized the Warren family's wealth was far greater than she initially believed. If Xoan was not willing to part with such an amount for her, did it not put his affection in doubt?She recalled the whispers of Xoan generously spending on Yaslyn without a second thought. With a mixture of determination and vulnerability, Wrenley turned to Xoan, her cheeks tinged with a hint of red. "Xoan, how do you think we should proceed?"Entrusting him with the choice also became a test of his sentiments toward her.Xoan understood the situation and chose not to argue further. He calmly stated, "Forty-two million dollars, you say? The Warren family can certainly afford it."From the sidelines, Yerick clapped and grinned. "Such generosity, just as I'd expect from the elder brother!"Yaslyn watched Yerick, who was like her comedic sidekick, and almost burst out laughing. Of course,
Whitey glanced back and forth between them, shaking her head. "You two are a mystery."Suddenly, Doniel stood and waved Whitey over. "Hey, Whitey. Come here for a second."Confused but compliant, Whitey walked over.In a swift move, Doniel took her hand. With a smug look at Matheo, he announced, "I'm taking Whitey off your hands for a bit."Matheo's expression turned steely. "What's your game?""Don't sweat it, she'll be back soon."With that, Doniel led Whitey out.They reached a more secluded spot before Doniel finally released her hand. "Whitey, you're not hurt, right?"Whitey shook her head, twirling in front of him to prove her point. "See? I'm totally fine."Doniel reached out and gently tapped her forehead. "Someone hit you, didn't they? Your face is still swollen, and here you are, telling me it's nothing."Whitey playfully stuck out her tongue. "I just didn't want you to worry. Besides, I'm not the one who got seriously hurt. It was Matheo.""I know. Matheo really d
"Don't make that call!" Whitey screamed in a panic.A harsh slap struck her face as the ringleader yelled, "Shut it, woman! Who said you could talk?"The man, not satisfied after hitting her, gave in to his fury and kicked her. However, before he knew it, Matheo, who was standing nearby, had silently moved behind him. Suddenly, a sharp crack echoed as Matheo snapped the man's fingers with raw force.Matheo wrapped his arms around Whitey and quickly retreated."I can't take it! I'm done. I don't want anything else. Just do it!"The ringleader was seething with rage, the throbbing in his fingers ruining his will to fight Matheo.A few thugs had been itching for a reason to go after Matheo, and they wasted no time grabbing their weapons and launching an assault.Matheo fought back while dragging Whitey out of harm's way, but as the fight dragged on, he started losing ground.A vicious knife cut to Matheo's leg sent him tumbling down with a grunt."Matheo!"Whitey crouched beside
Whitey shook her head. She did not have a clue, and even if she could guess, she did not know what to do about it."I was actually about to..."Before Matheo could finish, a deafening crash rang out.Startled, Whitey clapped her hands over her ears. Matheo wrapped her in his arms and glanced at the rear window.A random stone had shattered the car's back glass, leaving a gaping hole.The chaos erupted out of nowhere, catching both of them off guard. They had been deep in conversation when suddenly, a line of cars barricaded the road, trapping them.Matheo gently patted her head, a silent plea for calm.Whitey, frantic, nodded and fumbled for her phone, only to find it had mysteriously powered down."Stay put in the car and don't worry," Matheo said, handing her his phone."If things go south, call the cops, call anyone."He was ready to step out and face the unknown threat head-on.Whitey protested. "Matheo, we don't know what we're dealing with. Don't just rush out there."
Whitey was back to her usual routine—classes by day, radio station by night. However, she had a luxury she did not have previously. A private car service, ensuring her safety was never in question.Doniel's lips were sealed, not breathing a word of her injury to anyone. Except for Matheo, who had somehow stumbled upon the secret.That night, after her radio gig, Whitey stepped out expecting to see the familiar pink sports car tucked away in its usual spot. However, it was nowhere in sight.Moreover, he had not even bothered to call her. A knot of worry formed in her stomach. Did something happen to him?Whitey had called his number three, maybe four times, but got nothing.As she was wrestling with her thoughts, a familiar yet unsettling figure approached her.Matheo.Why was he there?Nobody knew about Whitey's job at the radio station except Doniel."Doniel's tied up today, so I'm your ride," Matheo said.Alarm bells rang in Whitey's head. How did Matheo know about Doniel
The nurse nodded, gesturing for Doniel to give them some space.Once the bandaging was complete, Doniel returned with a treat—Whitey's beloved chocolate cupcakes."For you. Why didn't you say it hurt? He was so rough, and yet you asked me not to hold it against him."Whitey, her mouth full of frosting, mumbled a reply. "It's not that bad. Besides, you two are usually on good terms. Why fight over pointless things because of me?"Doniel tapped her head gently. "You're such a goof. What are you even talking about? Meaningless things?""I just thought that you two grew up together, so it'd be a shame to fall out over something so small, right?"Doniel huffed, "I never really cared for him, you know.""Okay, let's figure out a plan B. This mess means I might be stuck in the hospital longer, so I'm counting on you to smooth things over back home."Doniel looked at her with a teasing grin. "Relax, I've got this."Somehow, Whitey could always pick up a strange vibe from his smile, an
Whitey was injured, and Doniel rushed her to the hospital that very night. It was just a slash on her arm, but Doniel was beside himself with worry.Watching Whitey grit her teeth through the stitching, Doniel's face turned a shade of stormy gray. "I'll track down that driver's family if it's the last thing I do!"Whitey winced in pain, but seeing Doniel's fury, she tried to soothe him. "Really, it's not so bad."Doniel looked at her bandaged arm. "Thirteen stitches, Whitey. If you're not in pain, I'm in pain for both of us."Whitey was always the center of attention—a princess who was doted on from the day she was born. She had never experienced an injury as severe as that. As Doniel reached for his phone to call Whitey's parents, she quickly stopped him with a hand gesture, wincing as she accidentally grazed her wound, "Please don't call them. They'll just scold me again if they find out.""I told you to let me drive you home. Now, look at what happened because you didn't li
Whitey gripped the edge of her skirt, a new kind of worry blooming in her chest.'What if Matheo was…'She shuddered at the thought, her mind a garden where fears grew into giant oaks, so tall and dark that they scared her.Looking up again, Whitey's eyes widened as she noticed the taxi had taken a wrong turn, heading into unfamiliar territory.In the rearview mirror, she caught a glimpse of the driver's unsettling smirk.Taking a cab late at night was proving to be a bad idea, her heart racing with fear. If only she had accepted a ride from Doniel, none of that would happen. Regret washed over her as she scrambled for her phone, desperate to call for help.Sensing her panic, the driver floored it to a secluded spot and then abruptly stopped the car.Whitey's head snapped forward, hitting the seat, and as the world spun, her phone slipped from her grasp. Then, the driver was toying with her phone, his grin wide and wicked."Planning to call the cops or a friend, sweetheart?""
As time swiftly marched on, three years went by.Whitey nailed her entrance exam into the top university in Jefferson City—Jefferson City University.As for the others, Caleb turned 30, tied the knot, had kids, and took control of Sheldon's international ventures. He and his family packed up and moved overseas, while the rest stayed back."Thanks for tuning into 'Moonlit Wishes,' your go-to spot for all things heartfelt. I'm your host, Macie."At the stroke of ten, Macie's soothing voice filled the evening airwaves."Let's hear from our first caller tonight. Hey there, sir, what's on your mind?"Macie's voice was soothing, soft yet strong enough to coax secrets from the most guarded of hearts."Here's the thing, Macie. I've been head over heels for this girl, but she's always kept me at arm's length, saying I haven't done enough. However, today, I caught her in another guy's arms. What gives?"The man's voice quivered with barely concealed tears, slurred slightly by alcohol.M
"So, just because you're into him, you decide to set me up? How does that make any sense?"Whitey could not help but find her logic almost laughable."Because I noticed he always had a soft spot for you, jealousy clouded my judgment, and that's why I..."Jade inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself for what was to come. "Well, you've uncovered the truth, so there's no point in hiding anything. Punish me however you see fit."What was the point in pleading guilty then?Jade stood there, a mix of defiance and dignity, stubborn even in the face of her mistake.Whitey was not looking to lay blame. "I'm not going to take this to the principal, and I won't breathe a word of it to anyone else. However, as of today, our friendship is done. I'll find a new place to sit when we get back."Whitey let out a tired sigh. "There's something else you should know. He's got a girlfriend now."Jade's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, are you two an item now?""No, I'm not the one he's dating."Wi